A Discourse on Democracry

[Sukerkin]

Here are a couple of very good short articles on the BBC about the very nature of democracy as a system of government and how, in and of themselves, just having elections to pick your leaders is not enough:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23607302

This one covers the ground wherein the, to me at least, salient strength of a democratic system is that we, the electorate, and those that govern, all tacitly collude that, even when we passionately disagree with someone's politics, we acknowledge the legitimacy of their views and position:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23723465

 

[Ken Morgan]

What was Churchill's quote? Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.

Many things need to happen for a successful democracy to occur. Education of the people is first and for most. Separation of church and state. A strong secular movement. A more capitalist system of economics. Respect for the rule of law.


The issue with modern democracy is that politics gets in the way. Outside of some fringe parties, the major parties are very similar, the major parties then have to find ways of telling each other apart, so it becomes an us vs. them media campaign.

 

[Makalakumu]

What happens to democracy when the oligarchs create a "public education" system for the electorate?

 

[Sukerkin]

Another in the series of short articles about the nature and challenges of democracy:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23810527

 

[Sukerkin]

A very important point raised by this Point of View article, one which highlights why it is that I so often speak up when I see partisanship blinding peoples eyes and closing their ears to anything but that they wish to see and hear:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23895920